Cuba St Tattoo co-owner Grant Gebbie said he hadn't heard she was here but joked to "send her our way", if she was sighted.
Rihanna, a tattoo enthusiast, got a Maori-inspired tattoo at an Auckland Tattoo parlour during her Diamonds World Tour in 2013- but was covered up by more ink weeks later.
Cuba St's Plum cafe manager Audrey Tutton was a huge fan of the Barbados star and knew she would be filming at Weta Studios, but didn't know she was in town.
"No Way! Seriously?!
"I don't know what I would do. I would fangirl out! She's so beautiful," she gushed.
Miss Tutton also joked to "send her our way" if the popstar was spotted.
Sales assistants at popular womenswear store Glassons also weren't aware she was here but were excited if she was.
Employee Jordan Christie was a huge fan.
"I went to her concert in Auckland.
"If I saw her around I would be so excited!"
It was announced in October last year Rihanna would be casted in the sci-fi film, alongside supermodel Cara Delevingne.
Filming will begin early next year and set to be released in 2017.